The Government on Saturday dismissed China’s objection to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Northeastern State is an integral and inalienable part of India. Responding to China’s objection to Modi’s visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the State is “an integral and inalienable part of India.”
Modi’s visit was part of a series of public meetings in the region aimed at garnering support for the BJP ahead of elections that are due to be held by May.
“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh from time to time, as they visit other parts of India,” the MEA said.
“This consistent position has been conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions,” the Ministry’s statement added. Earlier, China’s Foreign Ministry objected to PM Modi’s Arunachal visit saying “resolutely opposes” activities of Indian leaders in the region.
Modi on Saturday inaugurated several developmental projects during his one-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as its own and dubs South Tibet.
However, China reacting to Modi’s visit, asserted that it has never recognised the sensitive border State and India should refrain from any action that may “complicate the boundary question”and such actions would “escalate” and “complicate” border dispute.
China repeatedly objects to visits by Indian leaders and foreign dignitaries to the State, which it claims as part of South Tibet and its own. “China’s position on the Sino-Indian border issue is consistent and clear.
The Chinese Government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and resolutely opposes the activities of Indian leaders to the eastern section of the Sino-Indian border,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Beijing said such actions will hurt the progress made by both sides, especially after the pathbreaking meet between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan last year.
“China urges the Indian side to bear in mind the common interests of the two countries, respect the interests and concerns of the Chinese side, cherish the momentum of improvement in bilateral relations and refrain from any action that may lead to the escalation of disputes or complicate the boundary question,” she added.
India and China have so far held 21 rounds of talks to resolve the border dispute over Arunachal Pradesh.
The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). China routinely objects to Indian leaders visiting Arunachal Pradesh to highlight its stand.
In 2017, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh infuriated China, prompting it to rename some towns in the Indian State. The two sides almost came to blows in 2017 over building of a road by the Chinese at Doklam, an area claimed by Bhutan and close to an arterial Indian highway.
However, New Delhi and Beijing have tried to repair the damage and the ties have been on the upswing after Modi and Xi had an icebreaking meet last year.